In a deal struck earlier this week, regulators with the Department of Justice’s
United States Trustee Program (USTP) will require JPMorgan Chase Bank
to pay over $50 million to more than 25,000 homeowners. According to a
press release from the Executive Office for the United States Trustees,
the settlement comes after bank officials acknowledged the following:

Chase filed more than 50,000 payment change notices in bankruptcy courts
that were improperly signed by people who did not review the notices for
accuracy, including over 25,000 notices that were signed in the names
of former employees or employees who were not involved in the reviewing process.

Chase failed to timely and accurately notify homeowners in bankruptcy of
mortgage payment changes and failed to provide them with accurate and
timely escrow statements.

Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery commented on the case, stating
that Chase’s unlawful and abusive banking practices deprived American
homeowners of a fair chance in the bankruptcy system. Should the settlement
be approved, Chase would provide $50 million in the form of cash payments,
mortgage credits, and loan forgiveness.

In the proposed settlement, Chase also agrees to make changes to internal
operations to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future and
to submit to oversight by an independent compliance reviewer. These terms
are designed to protect the rights of homeowners who have filed for bankruptcy.

The $50 million settlement, which is subject to court approval, is only
one of many actions banks have made to provide relief to mortgage borrowers
in the wake of the country’s economic crisis. Chase has already
been required to provide billions in consumer aid in another Justice Department
settlement relating to mortgage securities and misleading investors.

The stream of lawsuits and settlements involving banks speaks volumes about
the seriousness and scope of financial problems that impacted millions
of Americans. At Wadhwani & Shanfeld, we know first-hand how the tough
economic climate caused many hard-working people to fall on difficult
times. If you are struggling financially, our legal team can help you
learn more about
foreclosure defense,
bankruptcy, and other options for debt relief.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website,
please update to most recent version.